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COSEE SE Ocean Sciences Education Leadership Institute
"Estuaries and Living Resources”
Sunday, July 23rd -Friday, July 28th at The Trinity Center in Pine Knoll Shores, NC

Application Deadline: April 1, 2006
Notification of selection: April 8, 2006

The Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence SouthEast (COSEE SE) invites middle and high school science teachers to participate in the fourth Ocean Sciences Education Leadership Institute. This Institute is designed to promote ocean sciences in formal and informal education and forge lasting relationships between ocean sciences researchers and educators. Twenty teachers will be selected from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. In addition, five team leaders--participants from prior Institutes-- will provide mentorship and group leadership.

In this week-long, residential experience, participants will participate in field exercises, meet ocean scientists, receive new curricula and resources, and explore classroom activities, relating to estuaries and living marine resources. Two key elements include the basis for ocean literacy—an understanding of the ocean’s influence on you and your influence on the ocean, and to learn how science processes in a research institution relate to teaching school science.

Successful completion of the entire Institute program consists of the following four criteria:

1. Demonstrate leadership through the planning and execution a six-hour, professional development event--“Ocean Awareness Day” with a designated local educational facility--SouthEast Portal to Ocean Research for Teachers (SEPORT).
   
2. Demonstrate classroom application through the development and implementation of a unit plan for the participant’s classroom that incorporates the research and activities presented at the institute.
   
3. Demonstrate new understanding of ocean concepts through the identification of at least one, local coastal issue, in a format appropriate to either peer teachers or students.
   
4. Participate in all evaluation protocols.

INSTITUTE OBJECTIVES

• Introduce teachers to regional ocean and estuarine sciences research topics and high quality curricular and educational resources;
  
• Provide an effective interface between teachers and ocean science researchers;
  
• Promote inquiry learning through existing curricular and educational resources, aligning with National Science Education Standards;
  
• Provide opportunities for teachers to demonstrate leadership skills;
  
• Facilitate the development, exchange and implementation of curricula and lessons to the participant's classroom;
  
• Provide for long term support, evaluation and communication between SouthEast COSEE and the Institute participants.

INSTITUTE COMPONENTS

The COSEE SE Ocean Sciences Education Leadership Institute is a summer event, rotating among North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia sites. The 2006 Institute will be held at the Trinity Center in Pine Knoll Shores, NC and the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC. This intensive week long Institute will provide lectures and presentations by marine research scientists, demonstrations, tutorials, hands-on activities, and field excursions. All activities are based on the National Science Education Standards.

The major science topics to be covered include:

– Introduction to the salt marsh and estuary
– Harmful Algal Blooms
– Coastal ocean circulation
– Barrier island geology and shoreline dynamics
– Marine living resources of the salt marsh and estuary
– Coastal management issues
– Effects of hurricanes on coastal waters
– Barrier island habitats and their cultural connection.

Other topics include SEPORT planning, unit plan development and classroom application.
Workshop activities begin Sunday, July 23rd at 1:00 pm and end Friday, July 28th at 1:00 pm. Field excursions include a trip onboard the R/V Susan Hudson, the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, and to the Rachael Carson National Estuarine Research Reserve in Beaufort, NC.

INSTITUTE TEAM

Margaret M. Olsen, Institute Coordinator, COSEE SE Education Specialist
Terri Kirby Hathaway, Institute Co-Coordinator, NC Sea Grant Marine Education Specialist
Amy Sauls, Rachael Carlson National Estuarine Research Reserve, Coastal Educational Specialist
Carrie Jo Thomas, Ph.D., Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, COSEE SE Research Specialist
Elizabeth Rogers, COSEE SE Curriculum Specialist

FACILITIES

The Trinity Center in Pine Knoll Shores, NC is a retreat and conference center, owned and operated by The Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina. The Trinity Center, nestled in a pristine maritime forest on North Carolina's Outer Banks, extending across the barrier island from Bogue Sound to the Atlantic Ocean. Rooms are hotel style, each with a private bath, a double bed and single bed, heat/AC, and alarm clock/radio. Adjacent lounge areas have fireplaces, refrigerators, and ice maker, TV/VCR, and telephones. Delicious home cooked meals are served buffet and family style in a gracious dining room by a staff very willing to accommodate special needs.

The Duke University Marine Lab, located in Beaufort, NC, is a year round research and teaching facility and home port for the R/V CAPE HATTERAS and a fleet of smaller research and transport vessels. The resident faculty reflects expertise in oceanography, marine biology, ecology, physiology, biochemistry, cultural anthropology and marine policy.

PARTICIPANT SELECTION CRITERIA

Applications are invited from:

1. Middle (grades 5-8) and high school teachers from NC, SC, and GA who teach or are willing to teach marine science in their classrooms.
2. Educators from non-formal educational institutions that have marine science exhibits or plan to add marine topics to their programs.
3. All applicants must have stated support from their principals or supervisors. indicating that he/she will support your efforts to integrate ocean science topics into the curriculum and support the follow-up criteria during the school year.

Participants will be selected to provide regional geographic distribution and ethnic diversity. Teachers who are members of groups underrepresented in marine science and/or who teach significant numbers of students who are members of groups underrepresented in marine science are encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

All communications concerning the Institute and applications should be addressed to:

Margaret M. Olsen
COSEE SE Education Specialist
30 Ocean Science Circle
Savannah, GA 31411
912-230-1149
olsen@uga.edu

Completed application with required principal or supervisor signature must be received by April 1, 2006. Initial notification of participants and alternates will be made by email on April 8, 2006 and followed by a letter. In selecting individuals for participation and otherwise in the administration of this Institute, COSEE SE will not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or marital status.

RECERTIFICATION CREDIT

Participants will earn three recertification credits from NC, SC or GA Departments of Education after completion of Institute criteria (no later than December, 2006).

PARTICIPANT SUPPORT

1. Stipend of $200
2. Housing and meals at the Trinity Center for five nights at no cost to the participant.
3. Travel re-imbursement (mileage) round trip between home and Pine Knolls Shore, NC
4. Exemplary marine curricula and resources
5. Long term support and communication between COSEE SE and the Institute participants

HOUSING

Participants will be expected to stay at the Trinity Center as the Institute will be intensive and will involve several evening meetings. Informal interaction among participants will be an integral component of the institute.

Participants are encouraged to attend without families as there will be little if any time for you to spend with them and they cannot be housed at the Trinity Center. No support is provided for dependents.

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